POLICE are urging residents to be vigilant after con men targeted homes in west Suffolk yesterday stealing cash, jewellery and in one case injuring to a woman.

An elderly couple in Wilcox Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, were the first victims when a man knocked on their door at 8.20pm claiming he had visited the day before to ask about pipes and water pressure.

A police spokesman said the man entered the house, looked at some radiators before running taps in the kitchen.

He then left in a rush leaving the pensioners to discover that cash and jewellery had been stolen.

Twenty minutes later three men conned their way into an elderly woman’s house in School Cottages, Hargrave, saying her neighbour’s washing machine was broken and they needed to turn off her tap.

One of the men examined taps in the kitchen before leaving with cash from the house.

In the third incident a woman was left shaken with an injury to her hand after she answered her door to a man in New Road Exning at 9.25pm.

She received her injury after struggling with the man as he tried to push past her. When she screamed the man fled the scene towards North End.

The first man is described as white, in his late 20s to 30s, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins, of slim build, wearing a black baseball cap and a grey jacket.

The three men who targeted the second home are all described as white and wore navy blue work shirts.

The man who caused the injury is white, 18-30 years old, 5ft 6ins of slim build, wearing dark clothing and a dark grey hat and scarf.

A police spokesman said: “Residents must keep their homes secure. Do not let anyone into your house if you are unsure of who they are.”

Anyone with information on these crimes should call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or dial 999 if a crime is in progress.